145
again destion 80 Subsection
nelaimed funds in the hands of
official Trustee paid to the Registrar of the court.
I should like to say that at the time when Mr. Kemp was recommended for the setting appointment of Official Receiver and Trustee in Bankruptcy, the Registrar was himself in fairly good health and had no idea, at that time, of proceeding to England.
13. Finally, my Lord, can I make whether I have any special claims on your kind consideration, for it is an invidious task to write such a letter as this, which is extremely distasteful to me, and only written as a last resort, but I should like to call your Lordship's attention to the fact that in 1900, while acting as Deputy Registrar and Appraiser, I was struck by the same with which Probate duty was avoided, the probate law in this Colony not then being up to date of the Home Act. I was therefore the initiative force to conform the local law to the Home Acts by which gifts made "inter vivos" and within 12 months death became subject to probate duty - vide The Hongkong Stamp Ordinance No.16 of 1901 Section 18.
With reference to my qualifications as a lawyer on company law I would beg to mention to your Lordship that for the convenience of the public I have, only so recently as January, last published my book on the Hongkong Company Ordinance, a work urgently wanted and which is, I hope, destined to become the text book and guide for all those interested in company affairs in the Far East.
As your Lordship will perceive, this unfortunate difference has arisen through the Cadet system, which, in my humble opinion is being pressed too far and hard upon me, one of the oldest servants, and I am all the more anxious to obtain an expression of your Lordship's opinion as Mr. Beth, the Registrar, left the Colony in very feeble health and may retire on pension in the very near future.
I have endeavoured impartially to state my case, and I may be that if all the facts stated in this letter were known His Excellency the Governor my appeal to your Lordship might not...